Regional 1 South Central is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across southern and South East England. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East, Regional 1 North West, Regional 1 South East and Regional 1 South West. Prior to 2022, Regional 1 South Central and Regional 1 South East were part of a unified level five league known as London & South East Premier.
Jersey are the 2025-26 champions and are promoted to National League 2 East
Format The twelve teams in this league are drawn from across southern England, with the league champions promoted to National 2 East. The league's bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 2 Thames or Regional 2 South Central depending on their geographic location. Play-offs were introduced in 2025–26, with the second and third-placed teams playing each other for the right to play in the NLR Accession Final, while the losing team in the play-off between the ninth and tenth placed teams play in the Regional 1 Accession Final.
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows: 4 points are awarded for a win 2 points are awarded for a draw 0 points are awarded for a loss, however 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
2026–27 season Departing were Jersey, promoted to National 2 East while Hammersmith & Fulham (11th) and Camberley (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 South East and Regional 2 South Central respectively. Incoming teams were Sevenoaks relegated from National 2 East and Bournemouth and Brunel University, promoted from Regional 2 South Central and Regional 2 Thames respectively.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bournemouth Chapel Gate 1,500 Christchurch, Dorset Promoted from Regional 2 South Central (champions) Bracknell Lily Hill Park 1,250 (250 seats) Bracknell, Berkshire 6th Brunel University Brunel University Sports Park Uxbridge, London Promoted from Regional 2 Thames (champions) CS Rugby 1863 King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London 5th Farnham Wilkinson Way Farnham, Surrey 7th London Scottish Lions King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London 2nd Maidenhead Braywick Park 1,750 (250 seats) Maidenhead, Berkshire 10th Old Alleynians The Common Dulwich, London 4th Sevenoaks Knole Paddock 1,000 Sevenoaks, Kent Relegated from National 2 East (13th) Tunbridge Wells St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent 3rd Wimbledon Beverley Meads 1,000 Wimbledon, London 9th Worthing Raiders Roundstone Lane 1,500 (100 seats) Angmering, West Sussex 8th
2025–26 Departing were London Welsh, promoted to National 2 East, while Brighton (11th) and Horsham (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 South East. Incoming teams were Worthing Raiders relegated from National League 2 East, while Farnham and London Scottish Lions were promoted, as champions, from Regional 2 South Central and Regional 2 Thames respectively.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bracknell Lily Hill Park 1,250 (250 seats) Bracknell, Berkshire 6th Camberley Watchetts Recreation Ground Camberley, Surrey 4th CS Rugby 1863 King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London 3rd Farnham Wilkinson Way Farnham, Surrey Promoted from Regional 2SC (champions) Hammersmith & Fulham Hurlingham Park Fulham, London 9th Jersey St Peter Saint Peter, Jersey 2nd London Scottish Lions King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London Promoted from Regional 2 Thames (champions) Maidenhead Braywick Park 1,750 (250 seats) Maidenhead, Berkshire 7th Old Alleynians The Common Dulwich, London 8th Tunbridge Wells St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent 10th Wimbledon Beverley Meads 1,000 Wimbledon, London 5th Worthing Raiders Roundstone Lane 1,500 (100 seats) Angmering, West Sussex Relegated from National 2 East (12th)
League table Regional 1 South Central 2025–26 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints 1 Jersey (P) 22 21 0 1 961 408 553 20 1 105 2 London Scottish Lions 22 18 0 4 775 502 273 19 0 91 3 Tunbridge Wells 22 14 1 7 749 512 237 19 5 82 4 Old Alleynians 22 14 0 8 716 617 99 15 1 72 5 CS Stags 1863 22 12 1 9 721 495 226 14 7 71 6 Bracknell 22 11 0 11 562 596 −34 14 6 64 7 Farnham 22 10 0 12 640 646 –6 15 5 60 8 Worthing Raiders 22 10 0 12 596 644 −48 13 3 56 9 Wimbledon 22 9 0 13 661 740 −79 15 3 54 10 Maidenhead 22 5 1 16 521 888 −367 10 2 34 11 Hammersmith & Fulham (R) 22 3 0 19 497 822 −325 10 7 29 12 Camberley (R) 22 3 1 18 531 1060 −529 10 3 27 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settledMint background is the promotion place. (1st) Green background is the promotion play-off places. (2nd–3rd) Pink background are the relegation play-off places (9th–10th) Salmon background are the relegation places (subject to confirmation by the RFU). (11th–12th) Updated: 13 April 2026
Play-offs The champions are promoted to National 2 East while the winner of the Regional 1 South Central promotion play-off meets the winner of the Regional 1 South East promotion play-off in round 2. The winner of this match plays the 12th placed team of National League 2 East with the winning team playing in next seasons National 2 East. In each match the highest placed team play at home.
Promotion play-offs Round 1
Round 2
NLR Accession Final
Henley remain in National League 2 East
Relegation play-off
Regional 1 Accession Final
Maidenhead remain in the division
2024–25 Departing were Havant, promoted as champions replaced by Wimbledon who were relegated from National League 2 East. Also departing are Bournemouth who were relegated to Regional 2 South Central.https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/rugby/195695/round-up-maidenhead-aiming-to-finish-on-a-high-against-already-relegated-bournemouth.html Marlborough transferred across to Regional 1 South West. Ordinarily Horsham would have dropped to Regional 2 South East but due to obtaining the highest amount of points across those finishing in a relegation place (11th) they earned a reprieve as the demise of Jersey Reds meant there was a corresponding adjustment across multiple leagues.
Joining the league are Jersey and Old Alleynians who were promoted as champions of Regional 2 South Central and Regional 2 South East respectively.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68615662https://www.dulwich.org.uk/old-alleynians-home/old-alleynian-news/oa-news-post/~board/news-21-22/post/oarfc-promoted-for-second-consecutive-season
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bracknell Lily Hill Park 1,250 (250 seats) Bracknell, Berkshire 5th Brighton Waterhill Playing Fields Brighton, East Sussex 7th Camberley Watchetts Recreation Ground Camberley, Surrey 2nd CS Rugby 1863 King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London 6th Hammersmith & Fulham Hurlingham Park Fulham, London 10th Horsham Coolhurst Ground Horsham, West Sussex 11th Jersey St Peter Saint Peter, Jersey Promoted from Regional 2SC (champions) London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London 3rd Maidenhead Braywick Park 1,750 (250 seats) Maidenhead, Berkshire 8th Old Alleynians The Common Dulwich, London Promoted from Regional 2SE (champions) Tunbridge Wells St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent 4th Wimbledon Beverley Meads 1,000 Wimbledon, London Relegated from National 2 East (13th)
League table Regional 1 South Central 2024–25 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints 1 London Welsh (P) 22 21 0 1 1041 393 +648 23 0 107 2 Jersey 22 19 0 3 794 455 +339 23 0 99 3 CS Rugby 1863 22 14 2 6 602 407 +195 17 0 77 4 Camberley 22 13 2 7 770 577 +193 18 0 74 5 Wimbledon 22 13 0 9 615 575 +40 15 0 67 6 Bracknell 22 7 3 12 543 639 –96 19 0 53 7 Maidenhead 22 9 1 12 569 724 –155 13 0 51 8 Old Alleynians 22 8 0 14 555 668 –113 18 0 50 9 Hammersmith & Fulham 22 7 0 15 472 731 –259 12 0 40 10 Tunbridge Wells 22 6 1 15 473 748 –275 10 0 36 11 Brighton (R) 22 5 0 17 500 695 –195 15 0 35 12 Horsham (R) 22 5 1 16 405 727 –322 11 0 33If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settledGreen background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.Updated: 5 April 2025 Source:
2023–24 Departing were champions Wimbledon, promoted to National League 2 East, while two teams were relegated - RWB (11th) and Sutton & Epsom (12th) to Regional 2 South Central and Regional 2 South East respectively. Also departing on a level transfer to Regional 1 Midlands were Banbury and Oxford Harlequins.
Three teams were promoted – Hammersmith & Fulham, Horsham and Marlborough from Regional 2 Thames, Regional 2 South East and Regional 2 South Central respectively. CS Rugby 1863 and Tunbridge Wells were both transferred from Regional 1 South East. The remaining seven teams played in this league last season.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bournemouth Chapel Gate 1,500 Bournemouth, Dorset 7th Bracknell Lily Hill Park 1,250 (250 seats) Bracknell, Berkshire 8th Brighton Waterhill Playing Fields Brighton, East Sussex 9th Camberley Watchetts Recreation Ground Camberley, Surrey 3rd CS Rugby 1863 King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London Transferred from Regional 1SE (10th) Hammersmith & Fulham Hurlingham Park Fulham, London Promoted from Regional 2 Thames (1st) Havant Hooks Lane Ground 1,500 (500 seats) Havant, Hampshire 2nd Horsham Coolhurst Ground Horsham, West Sussex Promoted from Regional 2SE (1st) London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London 6th Maidenhead Braywick Park 1,750 (250 seats) Maidenhead, Berkshire 5th Marlborough The Common Marlborough, Wiltshire Promoted from Regional 2SC (1st) Tunbridge Wells St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent Transferred from Regional 1SE (6th)
League table Regional 1 South Central 2023–24 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints 1 Havant (P) 22 18 1 3 783 496 +287 17 3 94 2 Camberley 22 16 1 5 758 496 +262 18 3 87 3 London Welsh Amateur 22 16 0 6 841 537 +304 17 4 85 4 Tunbridge Wells 22 15 0 7 641 580 +61 17 1 78 5 Bracknell 22 13 0 9 621 487 +134 15 4 71 6 CS Rugby 1863 22 12 0 10 560 444 +116 10 6 64 7 Brighton 22 9 1 12 598 672 –74 15 4 57 8 Maidenhead 22 8 0 14 630 694 −94 13 3 48 9 Marlborough 22 7 0 15 512 656 −144 9 5 42 10 Hammersmith & Fulham 22 6 0 16 508 804 −296 11 3 38 11 Horsham 22 5 0 17 475 708 −233 9 6 35 12 Bournemouth (R) 22 5 1 16 526 879 −353 8 2 32If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.Updated: 6 April 2024 Source:
Results
2022–23